Bert Fish Medical Center named best hospital workplace in Florida for facilities with fewer than 150 beds

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Bert Fish Medical Center has received the award for the Best Hospital Workplace in the state by the Florida Hospital Association for hospitals with fewer than 150 beds.

This award recognizes and honors hospitals that have “gone the extra mile” to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement. The award is part of the FHA’s annual Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service Awards, a program that highlights excellent personal and organizational efforts achieved within the Florida hospital community.

“I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of the great staff at Bert Fish Medical Center,” hospital CEO Steve Harrell said. “The patient is at the center of everything we do, and regardless of what else is going on in healthcare we can never lose sight of the people who care for our patients."

Steve Harrell“I am very proud to accept this award on behalf of the great staff at Bert Fish Medical Center,” hospital CEO Steve Harrell said. “The patient is at the center of everything we do, and regardless of what else is going on in healthcare we can never lose sight of the people who care for our patients."

Harrell added, "Our programs designed around caring for the caregiver have received statewide recognition and the engagement of our staff continues to improve with each survey. We are fortunate to have a great team, and we value each of them and the work they do.”

The Best Hospital Workplace award is one of 16 presented at the annual banquet, held last month at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, and is a team award recognizing the accomplishments of the entire institution. Bert Fish Medical Center received the award in the small hospital category for hospitals with fewer than 150 licensed beds.

Bert Fish Medical Center received the award in the small hospital category for hospitals with fewer than 150 licensed beds.

Bert Fish Medical Center, the largest employer in Southeast Volusia with more than 700 employees, focuses on blending the patient experience and the employee experience to create an environment of wellness, healing, trust and positive recognition.

Through a partnership with Planetree, a not-for-profit organization based in Derby, Connecticut, partnering with health care organizations across the globe to advance patient-centered approaches to care, Bert Fish Medical Center has created several programs that promote employee morale and workplace satisfaction including formalized recognition programs, workplace events, and employee health initiatives.

In 2009, two years after the Planetree philosophy was implemented, an employee survey showed that 99% of employees surveyed reported “I like the work I do” and 94% reported “overall, I am a satisfied employee.”

Paired with a staff retention rate for 2010 of 84%, these numbers show that Bert Fish Medical Center employees are focused on providing passionate and purposeful patient-centered care.

To be considered for Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service Awards, hospitals are required to complete a nomination form stating the award they wished to be considered for and clearly demonstrate how they meet the judging criteria.

The specific criteria for the Best Hospital Workplace award include a review of staff retention, employee satisfaction, and patient experience. Hospitals must also illustrate a potential applicability in other hospitals and exemplify the creativity, scope and implementation of the strategy, program or initiative highlighted.

Nominations are judged by out-of-state, non-FHA member judges to ensure fairness and adequate expertise.

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